Chapter 7
1164 Words
The message remained on Isadora’s screen long after the phone should have gone dark.
ASK WHO BETRAYED YOUR FATHER.
She read it again.
Then again.
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
For years, everyone had spoken about her father as though his disappearance were some unfortunate mystery that had no answer. There had been no warning, no goodbye, no explanation. One day Edward Blake had been there, and the next, he was simply gone.
Isadora had learned not to ask too many questions.
She had learned that people became uncomfortable whenever his name came up.
But this was different.
Someone wanted her to ask.
Someone knew something.
And somehow, that person believed Lucien Grave knew the truth.
The thought made her stomach twist.
She lifted her eyes toward the dark windows of her apartment. Rain traced thin lines down the glass, blurring the city lights outside.
She was alone.
At least, she thought she was.
A sudden sound came from the hallway.
Isadora froze.
Three quiet footsteps.
Then silence.
She stared at the door.
Her heart began beating faster.
Another sound.
This time, a soft knock.
She didn't move.
“Who is it?”
No answer.
She stepped closer to the door but stopped before reaching it.
Another knock.
Then her phone vibrated.
Isadora looked down.
Unknown Number.
A new message appeared.
Don't open the door.
Her breath caught.
She looked toward the door again.
The knocking stopped.
For several seconds, there was nothing.
Then footsteps moved away.
Isadora waited until she could no longer hear them.
She didn't sleep that night.
---
The following morning, she arrived at Cross Industries earlier than usual.
The building was already awake.
Employees hurried through the lobby carrying folders and coffee, speaking quietly into phones. Everything looked normal.
But Isadora no longer trusted normal.
She stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the executive floor.
As the doors began to close, a hand stopped them.
Lucien walked inside.
He looked exactly as he always did—calm, controlled, almost impossible to read.
His eyes moved to her face.
“You're early.”
“So are you.”
“I usually am.”
The doors closed.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Lucien looked at her.
“You didn't sleep.”
Isadora frowned.
“How would you know?”
“Because you look like someone who spent the night thinking about something she shouldn't.”
Her expression hardened.
“Maybe I was thinking about you.”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“That's usually a mistake.”
The elevator continued upward.
Isadora looked straight ahead.
“Who betrayed my father?”
The elevator stopped.
Not at their floor.
Lucien's expression changed.
It was barely noticeable, but she saw it.
For the first time since she'd met him, his composure cracked.
The doors opened.
Neither of them moved.
Lucien pressed the button to close them again.
“Where did you hear that?”
“Answer me.”
“Isadora.”
“Who betrayed him?”
His jaw tightened.
“You shouldn't be asking that question.”
“That's not an answer.”
“No.”
“Then give me one.”
Lucien stepped closer.
Not enough to frighten her.
Just enough to make her realize how serious he was.
“Your father wasn't betrayed by a stranger.”
Isadora's breath caught.
“Who was it?”
Lucien looked at her for several seconds.
Then he said quietly,
“Someone he trusted.”
The elevator doors opened again.
This time, they had reached the executive floor.
Lucien walked out.
Isadora followed.
“That's all you're going to tell me?”
“For now.”
She grabbed his arm before he could enter his office.
He looked down at her hand.
She immediately released him.
“I deserve the truth.”
“Yes,” he said.
“Then why won't you give it to me?”
His expression softened for only a moment.
“Because the truth isn't the only thing waiting for you.”
Isadora stared at him.
“What does that mean?”
Lucien looked toward the hallway.
“Someone entered your apartment last night.”
Her face went cold.
“How do you know?”
“I have people watching the building.”
“You're watching me?”
“I'm protecting you.”
“I didn't ask you to.”
“No,” Lucien replied. “You didn't.”
She hated how calm he sounded.
She hated even more that some part of her felt safer knowing he had been watching.
“Did they take anything?”
“No.”
“Then what were they looking for?”
Lucien's eyes met hers.
“You.”
Silence filled the hallway.
Isadora swallowed.
“Why?”
“That's what we're going to find out.”
He opened his office door.
But before Isadora could follow, his phone rang.
Lucien looked at the screen.
The color drained slightly from his face.
He answered.
“Speak.”
A pause.
Then his expression became unreadable.
“Where?”
Another pause.
His eyes shifted toward Isadora.
“Don't touch anything. I'm coming.”
He ended the call.
“What happened?” Isadora asked.
Lucien didn't answer immediately.
Then he looked at her.
“They found something.”
“What?”
“Your father's car.”
Isadora stopped breathing for a second.
“My father's car disappeared years ago.”
“I know.”
“Where is it?”
Lucien's voice dropped.
“Thirty minutes outside the city.”
She stared at him.
“Is my father there?”
Lucien didn't answer.
That silence told her enough.
“Take me with you.”
“No.”
“Lucien—”
“No.”
“It's my father.”
“I know.”
“Then I'm coming.”
He stepped toward her.
“You don't understand what you're walking into.”
“Then explain it.”
His eyes held hers.
“There are people who have spent years making sure Edward Blake stays missing.”
Isadora felt a chill run through her.
“And now?”
Lucien glanced toward the windows.
“Now someone has decided to bring his past back.”
He walked toward the elevator.
Isadora followed.
“Then I'm coming.”
Lucien pressed the button.
He didn't argue this time.
But before the elevator doors closed, he said quietly,
“If anything happens, you stay behind me.”
Isadora looked at him.
“And if the person who betrayed my father is there?”
Lucien's expression hardened.
“Then you let me deal with him.”
The elevator doors closed.
Neither of them noticed the small camera at the end of the hallway.
Its red light blinked once.
Then again.
And somewhere inside the building, someone watched them leave.
On a computer screen, a photograph of Edward Blake appeared.
Beneath it was a single sentence:
SHE KNOWS TOO MUCH.
Then another message appeared.
MAKE SURE LUCIEN DOESN'T GET THERE FIRST.
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